Students are responsible for self-identification and for obtaining disability documentation from a professional who is qualified to assess their disability; cost of the evaluation must be assumed by the student, not the postsecondary institution.

504/ADA: All qualified persons with disabilities who, with or without reasonable accommodations, meet the college's admissions requirements and the specific entry level criteria for the specific program and who can document the existence of a disability as defined by Section 504.

Students are responsible for notifying the Disability Support Services staff of their disability and of their need for reasonable accommodation. Accommodations are provided case-by-case, as-needed so students with disabilities can have equal access to the institution's programs and activities.

To determine reasonable accommodations for a student, the student must submit acceptable documentation to DSS. The DSS staff reviews the information and determines appropriate accommodation based upon the substantial limitations of the student and the essential elements of the course.

Reasonable accommodations are modifications to policies, practices or environments that allow an individual with a disability equal access or opportunity.

Once a student begins college, they are legally recognized as an adult, and all services including discussions, accommodations planning, documentation review, and meetings are conducted directly with the student. Parents and guardians do not have automatic access to these processes without the student’s consent. Still parents can’t request accommodation for the student or inquire if student has submitted accommodations for their courses. This aligns with federal privacy protections under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), which prohibit sharing student-specific information with anyone other than the student unless the student has provided written permission. 

Yes but only with your child/student’s permission. Under UAB’s Disability Support Services policy and FERPA regulations, the student must authorize your participation before you can attend. Even if you are present, all conversation and communication during the meeting will be directed to and through the student. This ensures the focus remains on supporting the student’s self-advocacy and independence, which are central goals in higher education disability services.

Due to FERPA, DSS staff are not allowed to communicate information regarding any of our students to anyone other than the student. If you would like DSS to speak to anyone on your behalf, please fill out the DSS Release information form, by contacting DSS or on the DSS application when applying for the services.

If a student is temporarily unable to communicate directly with Disability Support Services (DSS) due to an accident, hospitalization, or other serious situation, DSS can connect you with the Student Assistance and Support team.
This office helps coordinate communication between the university and all relevant parties, including instructors, to notify them about the situation and provide appropriate updates regarding your student’s classes.

If your student has completed the FERPA release through the Disability Support Services (DSS) office, DSS staff can share certain information with you as outlined in that release. However, there may still be limits to what can be shared in order to protect the student’s privacy and maintain a student-centered process. Some details such as personal medical information or private conversations may remain confidential unless the student explicitly authorizes their release.

You can help your students by encouraging them to contact DSS directly, assisting them in gathering any required documentation, and helping them prepare questions for meetings. While your support is valuable, the student should take the lead in all communication with DSS to promote independence and self-advocacy skills.